The music video for Slipknots song Psychosocial is a
reflection on the bands character and vibe. The narrative of the music video is
quite hard to see and is only shown in small fragmented moments. The more
prominent aspects of the music video convey meaning. The colour scheme of the
video is predominantly black with orange and yellow hues. These colour
contrasts are emphasised by their close proximity throughout the video. The sky
against the raging flames makes the music video compelling and watchable over
and over again, this is because the fire is flamboyant and I’m sure an expense
thing to have in a music video as such it is not seen being used so heavily in
music videos, making Psychosocial unique. Moreover, the location of the music
video is important to the whole Mise en scène, set in an eerie farm like field at
night it reflects a more conservative feeling of metal music – something scary
and dangerous. When I watched the video for the first time I got the impression
that they were taking inspiration form films such as the Texas Chainsaw
Massacre (the scene where the female lead is running for her life though the
farmyard at night). This use of horror as an association to music helps to widen
the target audience and is also good for promotional techniques. Promotionally
films have been used to great success for another one of Slipknots songs, for
the film Resident Evil. Predominantly the music video is performance based, which
again is a very traditional and a ‘typical’ approach to shooting a metal music
video such like the Hollywood Undead and Black Veiled Brides. Quick cuts throughout the video illustrate a
feeling of chaos and destruction which the visuals are also demonstrating. A
key example of this is 17 seconds into the video to about 25 seconds where the climaxes
of the drums are accentuated by the quickening of the cuts per second
harmonising what you hear with your eyes to an almost euphoric state. In my
opinion I believe that music videos that are mostly performance based other
than narrative rely more heavily on the notion of looking because they are
representing themselves in their most basic state. Making the video as
interesting and compelling as possible is the only way in which you can keep
the attraction of the audience. Slipknot use masks (for more than one reason
I’m sure) to create a compelling visuals but also to create an air of mystery
surrounding the members, again luring our more voyeuristic tendencies. In the middle of the music video what at first
glance looks like a pentagon (naïvely associated with metal music) is actually
a large Baha’i (nine pointed star) from Hindu religion. This integration of
religious textualization against aggressive music such as this, to some could
be seen as tasteless and like blasphemy. However I believe that it is only
using popular iconography to express meaning, such as the crucifix is used in a
lot of i.e. rap music or by people like Lady Gaga, and with no repercussions. The
lyrics of the music has a hidden meaning, on the top layer they would be seen
as to be about death predominantly and sacrifice however I believe that the
song is talking about the government and is in fact a political song about
capitalising on success, draining our whole lives by consuming. All in all I
really enjoyed the music video, as a band that was once amongst my favourite (once
upon a time…) I found it really enjoyable to look at it again, but from a
different perspective and with a more complex knowledge of the media and music.
And I want out
So abusive, fate
It doesn't cut
The soul
Is not so vibrant
The reckoning
The sickening
Back at you
Subversion
Pseudo-sacred
Pyscho virgin
Go tell your classes
Go dig you grave
Then fill
Your mouth with
All the money
You will save
Sinking in
Getting smaller again
Undone
It has begun
I'm not the only one
And the rain
Will kill us all
If we throw ourselves
Against the wall
But no one else
Can see
The preservation
Of the martyr in me
Psychosocial (6x)
Oh, there are cracks
In the road we lay
From when the devil fell
The secrets have gone mad
This is nothing new
But would we kill it all
Fate was all we had
Who needs another mess
We could start over
Just look me in the eyes
And say I'm wrong
Now there's only emptiness
But I'm missing something
I think we're done
I'm not the only one
Fake and defenseless lie
(Psychosocial)
I tried to tell you first
(Psychosocial)
Your hurtful lies
Are giving out
(Psychosocial)
Can't stop the killing
I can't help
If it's hunting season
Is this what you want
I'm not the only one
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